Wheaton Meat Co. delivers old-fahioned, family service in midst of changing downtown

WHEATON – Since 1940, the Wheaton Meat Co. has been slicing, smoking and selling as a consistent a cornerstone of the city.

However, the shop recently faced a new challenge when Mariano’s Fresh Market opened in October just down the street.

Don and Brett Joseph, the father and son duo behind the company counter, believe their business can continue to survive and thrive in spite of the competition.

“Downtown Wheaton definitely needed a grocery store of some sort,” Brett said. “But at the same time, we definitely have to step up our game to make sure that our product and service is better than theirs.”

Wheaton Meat has been located at 310 S. Main St. since 1950 and has been at least partially operated by the Joseph family since 1983, according to Brett.

The family has a long history in the grocery business, Don said. He met his wife, Tina, working at Walt’s in Wheaton as a teenager. Brett’s grandfather, Bill Pollock, worked as a grocer for more than 50 years and his name adorns the company’s signature line of “Grampa Bill’s” marinated products.

Alongside its variety of hormone-free, cut-to-order meats, Wheaton Meat also carries a small number of local products, ranging from hot sauces to frozen cookie dough.

“Pretty much whoever comes in and has a local product ... we’ll at least give it a chance and carry it,” Brett said. “We definitely like to support local small business, just as we hope people do for us.”

That small town appeal is part of what will carry Wheaton Meat in the face of its new competition, according to Don and Brett. Just as important, they said, is what drew them to the business in the first place – customer service only a small business can provide.

“We get to wait on customers and develop friendships and relationships with a lot of the awesome customers that we have, and are also very in touch with the Wheaton community,” Brett said. “Running a small business is challenging but it’s rewarding – everybody loves going to the butcher shop.”

While the store has seen a dip in sales since Mariano’s opened, customer loyalty has kept it afloat, according to Brett.

“It’s old fashioned,” Don said. “When new competition is moving into your area, you have to stop and think. Maybe we need to redouble our efforts and make sure we’re doing everything right – that’s what’s going to keep them coming back.”

Don and his wife made their son a co-owner three years ago, not out of family loyalty, but out of confidence, he said. Brett, now in his late twenties, had worked at the shop since he was a child and returned after graduating from Arizona University with a degree in history education.

“I didn’t really anticipate Brett getting into business with me, but after he graduated, he decided that business was the direction he wanted to go, so we welcomed him in here,” Don said. “I’m speaking about my own son here, but he’s the best customer relations person in this business that I’ve had working for me.”

The family connection didn’t hurt either, he said.

“He’s my son. When he said ‘I want to come and work here’ I wasn’t going to say ‘No,’” Don said.

Brett called it a privilege to work with his father.

“We get along very well. He’s awesome person,” he said. “Dealing with him on an everyday basis, we don’t run into the typical family headbutting because we’re good friends.”

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Know more

For more information about Wheaton Meat Co., visit www.wheatonmeat.com or call 630-668-0555.